This Is Not A Drill

Together With

Waking up to find you’ve run out of coffee is no way to start your day. Be kind to your morning self and automate your coffee supply with a subscription to Onyx Coffee Lab. Fully customize your flavors and frequency HERE. 

Events

It’s Time For The First “First Friday” Of 2024 In Bentonville

Downtown Bentonville’s First Friday celebration returns this week with a full day of exciting activities, live music, great food, and community fun this Friday, Apr 5, from 11a-9p.

• Preclipse Party: April’s First Friday will celebrate all things Eclipse to help get the community ready for Monday’s celestial event. Don’t forget the Solar-Bration On The Square is also happening in Downtown Bentonville on Monday, Apr 8, from 11a-2p.

• Outer Space: Enjoy interactive eclipse-themed activities provided by NWA Space, the Crystal Bridges Mobile Art Lab, Amazeum, and more. Keep an eye out for Star Wars characters for photo ops! The Schmieding Foundation Inc.’s Sensory Alley is back this year, providing an inclusive space for individuals who may find the loud noises overstimulating.

Find a list of performers, vendors, and food trucks to expect at First Friday HERE.

Sports

Naturals Kick The 2024 Season Off With A Bang

The Naturals open the 2024 season with a 3-game series against the Tulsa Drillers this weekend, Apr 5-7, featuring back-to-back fireworks shows and a Family Sunday!

• Bada Bing: The Naturals will emerge from the dugout in their brand-new uniforms and caps, ready to represent the Natural State as they take on the Tulsa Drillers, the Double-A Affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• Bada Boom: To celebrate the start of the season, both Friday and Saturday games will feature post-game fireworks. Cap off Opening Weekend with a Family Sunday at Arvest Ballpark — all kids will receive a voucher for a free Clif Kids Zbar and can enjoy the Sunday tradition of running the bases after the game.

Find game times and purchase tickets HERE.

Sponsored by Walton Arts Center

To Kill A Mockingbird Coming to Walton Arts Center

The history-making production of To Kill a Mockingbird, Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will make its Arkansas premiere at Walton Arts Center Apr 16–21 for eight performances only.

• Mockingbird: Set in Alabama in 1934, Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most revered characters in American literature, small-town lawyer Atticus Finch, played by Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas.

• All Rise: Rolling Stone called it “an emotionally shattering landmark production of an American classic.” Experience the magic of the highest-grossing American play in Broadway history for yourself as its national tour makes its way through Northwest Arkansas. Tickets start at $52.

Limited tickets remain for all performances. Reserve yours HERE.

Restaurant News

Pedal Park In Farmington To Host Grand Opening Celebration

Pedal Park in Farmington will host its grand opening celebration this weekend with fun activities planned on Apr 5-6 from 12-8p.

• Roll Up: Pedal Park is a food truck village located at 169 W Main St in Farmington. Join weekly community gatherings like Tuesday Trivia, Wednesday BINGO, Friday UNO, and daily cornhole, ring toss, and more! All Community Events are free, and everyone is encouraged to support the small businesses onsite with purchases.

• On The Menu: Food trucks onsite include Pedal Pops, El Jefe Mexican, Redbeard’s Gunpowder Smoked Meats, and Volcano Asian Bistro. Join the fun this Friday with Community Yoga from 6-7p and Karaoke from 7-8:30p and on Saturday with Live Music from 6-8p. All weekend long, visitors can enjoy buy one, get one non-alcoholic Pedal Pops.

Save the full schedule and follow along for more details HERE.

Nonprofit

Gain Insight Into Northwest Arkansas’s Housing Crisis With Circles NWA

U.S. News may rank Arkansas #3 in housing affordability, but our little corner of the state sure doesn’t feel like it. Gain a deeper understanding of the region’s unique housing crisis during Home Is Where the Hardship Is: The Stress of Housing In Arkansas, a free public forum with Circles NWA at the Fayetteville Public Library next Wednesday, Apr 10, from 6-7:30p.

• Inner Circle: On a mission to end poverty, Circles NWA empowers low-income families to achieve upward mobility through the power of social capital. Circles NWA’s unique approach places leadership on those who have experienced poverty, known as Circle Leaders, while volunteers, called Allies, provide support, insight, and connections.

• All Together: During the forum, Circle Leaders will share firsthand accounts of their experiences navigating housing challenges while exploring solutions for those struggling to secure housing.

Register for the free event HERE.

NWA Daily Picks

In other news…

• 🕊️ For the Birds: The new ownership of  Wild Birds Unlimited is celebrating the reopening of your favorite backyard specialty store by giving away 100 birdfeeders with a bag of their signature seed! Get yours at their Rogers or Fayetteville locations from Apr 1-6 or while supplies last.* 

• 👩‍🎤 Aca-Scuse Me? Raise your voices for the 8th annual VoiceJam A Cappella Festival, returning to Walton Arts Center from Apr 12-13 for a weekend of workshops, vocal competitions, and a concert by 10x Grammy-winning vocal group Take 6.*

• 🥪 Makin' Millions: Help Arvest Bank fight hunger in our local community during the 14th annual Million Meals campaign, an initiative benefiting 28 food partners in Northwest Arkansas.

• 🏃 Runnin’ It: The NWA NAACP will host its inaugural Equality Now 5k, Fun Run, and Health Fair on Saturday, Apr 13, 2024,  at Veterans Park in Fayetteville.

• 🍖 Barbecue: Score free tickets to the NWA Home & Outdoor Living Expo this weekend by joining Burnett Home Improvement for a Barbecue Happy Hour at their showroom in Springdale this Wednesday, Apr 3, from 3-6p.

• 📅 NWA Calendar: Stay up to date with events mentioned in the newsletter, or post your own upcoming events on our Events Calendar!

• 🥳 Join The Club: Our daily newsletter is completely free, but if you simply love what we’re doing, you can support our work by joining our NWA Daily Fan Club!

• 🚀 Take Off: Share your message with our growing community of 35,000+ readers. We have several advertising opportunities to help you share your story with Northwest Arkansas.

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Employment

Cool Jobs In NWA

Find exciting new job opportunities on our Job Board, or find great candidates by posting your open positions.

Giveaway

Aca-Believe It

We’re giving away three pairs of tickets to the VoiceJam A Capella Festival at Walton Arts Center on Apr 12-13.